Breakfast links: DC auditor recommends additional steps to meet Vision Zero standards
Aftermath of a car crash on Pennsylvania Ave SE in DC. Image by Caitlin Rogger used with permission.
DC audit report finds additional steps are needed to meet Vision Zero standards
Part 2 in the auditor’s Vision Zero report focused on enforcement and equity, highlighting both indicators of progress and areas for improvement. Although more than half of the District’s automated enforcement cameras are placed at high-injury intersections, less than half of the 25 most dangerous intersections have cameras. The report provided recommendations for several agencies including the Metropolitan Police Department, the Department of Public Works, the Department of Transportation, and the Council. (7News)
Youngkin plans to withdraw Virginia from auto emission standards at end of year
The move would go against legislation passed by the state legislature in 2021, which set Virginia to comply with standards set by California. One key change would reduce requirements for the percentage of vehicles sold that are powered by electricity. Critics say it’s not within the Governor’s power to undo the standards. (This article may be behind a paywall). (Gregory Schneider / Post)
Spring Street Bridge closed until 2025
Spring Street Bridge in Silver Spring will be demolished for construction of the Purple Line and later rebuilt. The project will also require temporary closure of several local roads and re-routing of Ride On buses. Purple Line construction is over 60% complete. (Ginny Bixby / MoCo360)
DDOT hosts public forum on South Dakota Ave safety alternatives
DDOT held a public hearing on how to make South Dakota Avenue safer amidst many crashes, and presented alternatives for a road diet on South Dakota Avenue, a 3.6-mile principal arterial in Northeast DC. Two of those alternatives include bike lanes. (WUSA9)
Virginia Passenger Rail Authority in talks to extend to New River Valley
To carry out the plan to extend passenger rail without building a new tunnel, Virginia would sell a 28-mile stretch of the Virginian Line to Norfolk Southern and in return buy the Manassas Line, in a bid to smooth the commute of riders using the Virginia Railway Express. Discussions on feasibility are scheduled for early August. (Markus Schmidt / Cardinal News)
Prince George’s County Council passes bill to allow businesses to request juvenile curfew zones
Commercial property owners could request the curfew for people under 18 between midnight and 5:00 am on weekend nights and after 10:00 pm on weekdays, but would require support from the council member representing the area for a curfew to be put in place. Critics note that the efficacy of curfews in reducing youth delinquency is unclear, and call for more focus on prevention. (This article may be behind a paywall). (Lateshia Beachum / Post)
Residents leaving Washington region more likely to move to rural areas than in the past
Migration away from high-population counties has been twice as high as it was pre-pandemic. People who choose to move from the Washington region increasingly favor rural areas such as Berkeley County, West Virginia, or the Eastern Shore of Maryland. Analysts ascribed the shift to the rise of remote work options. (Scott Gelman / WTOP)
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